Poyrazlar Gölü Tabiat Parkı

Poyrazlar Lake Nature Park is a lake and woodland area about eight kilometres northeast of central Adapazarı, near the village of Poyrazlar. The lake takes its name from the village on its shore and is also known as Lake Teke. Lying right beside the Sakarya River, it is an alluvial barrier lake formed as the river changed its bed over time. Being so close to the city centre makes it one of the easiest nature areas in the province to reach. According to the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the lake covers 67 hectares and has a shoreline 2,400 metres long. Its depth varies between 3 and 8 metres. The southern parts are shallow and covered in reeds; the small longoz there, a patch of flooded forest, is an important area where waterbirds feed and breed. The lake drains its surplus water through a stream leaving its northern tip into the Sakarya River, about 350 metres away. When the river floods, its waters mix into the lake; at normal times the river feeds the lake through water seeping underground. The lake and its surroundings were declared a first degree natural protected area in 1993. The area on the western shore was registered as a nature park in 2011. Nature parks are the responsibility of the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Hornbeam and oak dominate the forest around the lake, and later plantations added stands of black pine and Scots pine. Poyrazlar is one of the most rewarding places in Sakarya for birdwatchers. According to studies cited by the Directorate, 154 bird species have been recorded at the lake. Of these, 65 are resident, 47 are summer migrants, 36 are winter migrants and 6 are passage migrants. The reedy southern shore and the patch of longoz are the best places to see waterbirds. Bringing binoculars and waiting quietly on the shore in the early morning noticeably improves what you will see. According to Wikipedia, many butterfly species can also be seen here in early May. The area is home to more than birds. The Directorate notes that jackals, foxes, weasels, hares, squirrels, hedgehogs, wild boar and moles live on the site. Land tortoises, spotted salamanders and green lizards are also among its residents. The lake holds fish such as pike, carp and perch. The nature park is used mostly for picnics, relaxation, nature walks and wildlife watching. You can walk around the lake, or ride a loop on your own bicycle or on one rented on site. The park also hosts events and festivals from time to time. In spring and summer, and especially at weekends, it gets crowded; if you want a quiet lakeshore, choose a weekday or the morning hours. The lake is also popular with photographers, and the morning light, when the wooded hills are reflected in the water, gives the best pictures. According to the Directorate page, there is an entrance fee to the nature park, set by the General Directorate of National Parks. Check the current fee and opening information with official sources before you go. The lake lies at the tenth kilometre of the old road from Sakarya to Karasu, and about five kilometres past the Güneşler junction on the new Karasu road. The Culture Portal states that the area can be reached by city transport. Spending half a day here before or after the museums in the city centre adds a green breath to a day in Adapazarı.